Ebert looking to follow trail blazed by Remington on Oregon’s D line

Dion Jordan is the current star, Arik Armstead is perhaps the future, and Taylor Hart, Wade Keliikipi and Ricky Heimuli have spent the last two years establishing themselves on the Oregon defensive line, as well.

Not to be overlooked are two former junior college transfers, Isaac Remington and Jared Ebert, who also figure to factor prominently up front for the UO defense this fall.

Remington, a senior from Queens Creek, Ariz., played in all 14 games and started three last fall after redshirting in 2011. Ebert, a junior from Iowa City, Iowa, is on the same schedule but a year younger, having redshirted last fall before being penciled into the rotation for 2012.

“Time’s getting closer,” Ebert said. “I feel so lucky to be playing with the D line, and such a great group of guys. Definitely looking forward to the season.”

Oregon signed a big group of defensive linemen in this year’s recruiting class, including players like Armstead and DeForest Buckner who have impressed teammates early on and perhaps could have an early effect. But the best bet for an top newcomer on the line might be the redshirt junior Ebert, particularly if he can follow the trail blazed by Remington.

“It’s hard, coming out of juco, feeling like an older guy and at the same time you’re redshirting,” said Remington, who had 31 tackles as a junior, four for loss. “It’s difficult, but I think he’s doing a lot better job now that us older guys are (picking) him up, showing him the way.”

Ebert said the veterans were tough on him — “I expected it,” he added — until he proved himself a hard worker. The former JC all-American had 41 tackles with 4 1/2 sacks for Iowa Western Community College in 2010, but his reputation didn’t mean much to his new UO teammates.

“I’m gaining more trust now, getting more reps in,” Ebert said. “They expect me to play this season, and I’m happy they finally have taken me in and I’m going to be able to play for these guys.”

Remington and Ebert, who both came to Oregon around 285 pounds, took different philosophies in their offseason conditioning programs, befitting guys who play different roles on the UO line. Remington, who started three games at nose tackle to open 2011, added 15 pounds this summer to get up to 305, in order to feel more powerful at that spot and the Ducks’ other defensive tackle position, which is an end in 3-4 formations.

“We’re taking up a lot of double teams, but we’ve still got to be explosive because we’re sometimes rushing a tackle off the edge,” said Remington, a captain on the defensive line this fall. “It’s kind of a mix.”

Ebert, on the other hand, has dropped some 20 pounds since arriving at Oregon, to about 265. He’s more likely to play an end position, such as the one senior Terrell Turner filled last season.

Ebert said he felt “sluggish” upon joining the Ducks a year ago.

“I felt I had to limber out a little bit and kind of start over,” he said, calling 265 “a lot better, faster weight.”